Sour grapes sets one’s teeth on edge

In the Bible (Jeremiah 31:27) there is an interesting reference to sour grapes. “In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eats the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge”.

What does setting one’s teeth on edge actually mean? What is the actual feeling like? I can think of two specific examples. When someone screeches a coin across a sheet of glass and you hear that high pitched squeaky sound, you sense an uncomfortable shrivel on the edges of your teeth. As an Asian I can quote you another example. Try eating an unripe green mango. It is sour to the core. When you bite it the acidic sourness makes your teeth grit and your teeth feels a tingle as if the enamel is going to melt away. You also feel a tingle in you head and spine. Your teeth have been well and truly set on edge. Yet we loved eating these sour mangoes and even worse we pickled them with salt and hot chillies to rocket blast you to the moon and back! There is so much pleasure in pain.

This intense tartness in the lush green and unripe mangoes is also found in New Zealand Sauvignon or in some warm climate Chardonnays or Chenin Blanc. So next time you drink these sharp wines and feel that acute tingle in your mouth, the feeling of someone gritting their teeth, remember to describe the taste as that of a green, unripe mango. But before you can describe that feeling with authority and experience you need to get your teeth into that green mango. Let me know how it really feels. You can then describe that Chardonnay in Asian terms.

Plum in your mouth - Was that a Java Plum?

If someone is said to speak with a “plum in one’s mouth” it does not mean that they have a bulging cheek stuffed with a plum. The idiom is used to describe the way in which someone from high class society speaks (e.g. British). Such posh and pompous language is also found in wine tasting events.

But “plum” the fruit is the taste most often associated with red wines e.g. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and other red grape varietals. One tastes the sweet, sour and the astringency when drinking these red wines. For the Europeans, the plum is a common fruit found in one’s own garden or as jam on ones toast. It is so easy to understand.

Just the other day, I asked myself, how best I could describe the plum in the Asian context.

There is indeed a fruit called Java Plum (Syzygium cuminii – see picture) which tastes just like the European plum. Not only is it eaten as a fruit for enjoyment, Java Plum is said to have tremendous health benefits. Look at the picture. Doesn’t it look like the colour of red wine?

In Asia, I’d rather prefer to hear a wine host or judge speaking with no plum in his/her mouth. Why not simply say that it tastes like Java Plum and I will know exactly what that means. Wine hosts should contextualise their wine lexis don’t you agree? If the plum in your mouth is a barrier to communicating the taste of wine, simply spit it out!